Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crisp greens, juicy mandarins, and crunchy noodles tossed in a sweet sesame dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, napa cabbage, or spinach)
02 - 1 cup shredded carrots
03 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup mandarin orange segments (drained if canned)
06 - 1/2 cup shelled edamame (optional)
07 - 1/2 cup crunchy chow mein noodles
08 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
→ Sesame Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
14 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large salad bowl, toss together the mixed greens, shredded carrots, sliced bell pepper, green onions, mandarin orange segments, and edamame if using.
02 - In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey (or maple syrup), lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sesame seeds until the dressing is fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Pour the sesame dressing over the salad and toss gently until all the greens and vegetables are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle the crunchy chow mein noodles and toasted sliced almonds over the top just before serving to preserve their crisp texture. Garnish with additional sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of juicy citrus, crisp vegetables, and shattering crunch from the noodles makes every bite exciting.
- It comes together in under 30 minutes with zero cooking stress, which means you can make it while your main dish simmers.
- The sesame dressing doubles as a marinade for chicken or tofu, so keep the recipe in your back pocket for meal prep.
02 -
- Always dress the salad right before eating because the greens will wilt and the noodles will go soft within 20 minutes.
- Toasting the almonds takes only 2 to 3 minutes in a dry pan but they go from golden to burnt in seconds, so stay at the stove and shake the pan constantly.
- Canned mandarin segments must be drained thoroughly because excess syrup waters down the dressing.
03 -
- Double the dressing recipe and keep the extra in the fridge for up to a week because it works on grain bowls, roasted vegetables, and even as a quick dip.
- For a gluten free version, swap the soy sauce for tamari and replace the chow mein noodles with crushed rice crackers or roasted chickpeas.